Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Shipping: Navigation

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusions from the Maritime Resilience and Integrity of Navigation (MaRINav) study.

Lord Callanan: MArRinav was funded by the UK Space Agency, through the ESA NAVISP Innovation programme. It was led by UK industry as a collaboration of 8 organisations and completed in 2020. The outputs can be viewed on MArRinav's website. The UK Government welcomed the project outcomes, and the detail was incorporated into the evidence assessment during the development of a UK PNT Strategy, in particular the need for maritime integrity and a system-of-systems approach to PNT resilience in the UK.

Nuclear Power

Viscount Trenchard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish an updated National Policy Statement for nuclear power to reflect the range of applications envisaged for nuclear technology set out in the Energy White Paper published on 14 December 2020.

Viscount Trenchard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish a planning framework to facilitate the adoption of new potential sites for nuclear reactors, including (1) small modular reactors, and (2) advanced modular reactors.

Lord Callanan: We stated in the 2020 Energy White Paper our intention to undertake a review of the energy National Policy Statement (NPS) suite. This review was published for consultation on 6th September 2021.This consultation includes the revised overarching National Policy Statement for energy (EN-1). The revised EN-1 sets out that a new technology specific NPS for nuclear electricity generation deployable after 2025 is proposed and will be developed to reflect the changing policy and technology landscape for nuclear and support the transition to net zero. This will be consulted on in the usual manner, in due course.The revised EN1, also sets out that the need for nuclear could be met by large scale gigawatt nuclear, Small Modular Reactors, Advanced Modular Reactors and fusion technologies.The publication of this consultation is a first step toward a planning framework to facilitate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.

Environment Protection: Job Creation

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to expand the green recovery programmes for rapid job creation; and how they intend to scale investment in line with G7 peers.

Lord Callanan: Under UK leadership at the G7, we have put Green Recovery from COVID-19 at the top of the international agenda and secured historic commitments such as the first ever ‘net zero G7’, with all countries committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.Last November, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, which brings together £12 billion of government investment to unlock three times as much private sector investment by 2030; and support up to 250,000 jobs across the UK by 2030.

Carbon Emissions: Devolution

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the devolved administrations regarding achieving net zero by 2050.

Lord Callanan: The UK Government is working closely with Devolved Administration colleagues at Ministerial and official level to achieve our climate goals. This includes input into the Net Zero Strategy to deliver on the UK’s carbon budgets leading up to 2050. This close working is facilitated through a Net Zero Inter-Ministerial Group involving Ministers from the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations, a senior-official level Net Zero Nations Board which meets on alternate months, a monthly supporting working group, a programme of deep dives this summer across a range of economic sectors and enabling activities, and through considerable sector-specific engagement.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

West Bank: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take, if any, to protect Palestinians in the West Bank from attack by Israeli settlers and forces.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We welcome the efforts of Israeli authorities to address settler violence, and urge them to thoroughly investigate every instance to bring those responsible to justice. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Jerusalem: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Israeli authorities demolished a Palestinian kindergarten inBeitSafafa on 17 August under pretext of illegal building; and what steps they plan to take, if any, to prevent the future demolition of Palestinian homes and other buildings in Jerusalem.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK's opposition to demolition of Palestinian property, including schools, is long-standing and well known. The British Embassy regularly raises the issue of demolitions with the Government of Israel, most recently on 10 August. The former Foreign Secretary raised ongoing evictions, demolitions and settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem, with the Israeli Authorities during his visit to the region on 26 May.We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and are clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the number of Palestinians killed or injured by live fire from Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank so far this year.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We regularly raise the issue of the high numbers of Palestinians killed and injured by Israel Defence Forces in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli authorities, encouraging them to carry out transparent investigations into whether the use of live fire had been appropriate. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population and urge restraint in the use of live fire.

Lebanon: Palestinians

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is one of the leading donors in supporting Lebanon to host both Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Since 2011, the UK has allocated over £780 million in humanitarian and development funding to Lebanon. Our humanitarian assistance will continue to promote access to education and provide those most in need with timely, flexible assistance and protection services to cover their basic survival needs and reduce gender-based violence, saving lives and reducing suffering. The UK is also a key supporter to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which provides vital services to Palestinian refugees across their five fields of operation including in Lebanon. Our annual contribution to UNRWA's programme budget helps UNRWA to provide basic education to more than 533,000 children a year (half of whom are girls), access to health services for 3.5 million Palestinian refugees and social safety net assistance for around 255,000 of the most vulnerable across the region.

West Bank: Palestinians

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take, if any, to protect Palestinian homes and agricultural structures in Area C of the West Bank from destruction by Israeli forces.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK's opposition to demolition of Palestinian homes and structures is long-standing and well known. The British Embassy regularly raises the issue of demolitions with the Government of Israel, most recently on 10 August. The former Foreign Secretary raised ongoing evictions, demolitions and settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem, with the Israeli Authorities during his visit to the region on 26 May.We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and are clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolitions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law.

West Bank: Palestinians

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Israeli forces (1) shot and killed four Palestinian men during raids on the Jenin refugee camp on 16 August, and (2) prevented Palestinian ambulances from reaching the men before detaining their bodies.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of these reports. In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we urge the Government of Israel to conduct swift and transparent investigations. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population and urge restraint in the use of live fire. The long-lasting movement restrictions and the serious constraints imposed by the occupation can impact on the provision of medical care. The wounded or critically ill should be able to access the urgent medical care they need. We urge all sides to treat the dead with respect and return any bodies they are holding.

Occupied Territories: Press Freedom

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take, if any, to protect journalistic freedom in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to the protection of media freedom around the world. We continue to reiterate the importance of a free and open press, and freedom of expression to the Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority.

West Bank: Palestinians

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Palestinian children in the West Bank are facing increased violence from Israeli settlers.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians. We welcome the efforts of Israeli authorities to address settler violence, and urge them to thoroughly investigate every instance to bring those responsible to justice. We also continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Females

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Wolfson of Tredegar on 20 July (HL1761), what is their policy on whether prisoners whose sex assigned at birth was female should use female pronouns to refer to prisoners who identify as female but were assigned male at birth if such prisoners (1) have, or (2) do not have, a Gender Recognition Certificate; and whether there would be any consequences for failing to use female pronouns in such cases.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are committed to advancing equality and eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation, including based on gender reassignment status as defined in section 7 of the Equality Act 2010. The prohibition on discrimination in relation to gender reassignment applies regardless of whether someone has a Gender Recognition Certificate. Incidents where a prisoner uses incorrect pronouns for another prisoner will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with the Prisoner Discipline Procedures policy and the Prison Rules. Prisoners may sometimes make an honest mistake in relation to pronouns and disciplinary action would not usually be appropriate in those circumstances. However, if an officer deems it appropriate to place a prisoner on report, the rule against ‘using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour’ (PR 51 (20) may apply. The adjudicator will weigh each incident on its own merits. The policy stipulates that an offence motivated by another person’s protected characteristic(s) under the Equality Act 2010 is an aggravating factor and may merit referral to an Independent Adjudicator.

Reparation by Offenders

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to improve awareness of restorative justice throughout the criminal justice system, and (2) to increase the capacity of (a) professional, and (b) volunteer, restorative justice practitioners.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The Government continues to support the provision of good quality, victim-focussed restorative justice to help victims cope and recover from the effects of crime.Under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims’ Code), all victims have the right to receive information about how to access restorative justice services in their local area.The new Victims’ Code, which was published in November last year and came into force on 1 April this year, includes information which explains what restorative justice is and how it works. As part of the launch of the new Code, the Ministry of Justice engaged in publicity to raise awareness of the Code and victims’ rights therein. Criminal justice agencies also used internal communications to raise awareness of victims’ rights among practitioners.The Ministry of Justice funds Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to provide victim support services including commissioning restorative justice services to meet local need. Individual PCCs determine the capacity of restorative justice services required and the model of service appropriate for their area. PCCs are also able to utilise other funding streams outside of their MoJ grant for restorative justice.In addition to the PCC commissioned schemes, the Government-funded national Homicide Service includes access to restorative justice services as part of the package of support it provides to families bereaved by homicide. Further restorative justice capacity is also made available in the youth justice system and by HM Prison and Probation Service.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Sheltered Housing

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have madein setting up the task force on housing with care; and what is its remit.

Lord Greenhalgh: Both the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department of Health and Social Care are committed to further improving the diversity of housing options available to older people. We are engaging closely with both the sector and a range of other stakeholders on this issue. This includes considering the merits of different engagement and delivery models including proposals from the sector for a cross-Government taskforce.

Planning Permission: Equality

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toexpand the National Planning Policy Framework’s presumption in favour of sustainable development to include an aim of striving for racial equality in all planning processes.

Lord Greenhalgh: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) already expects that local plans and decisions should apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development, of which social sustainability is a key component. The planning system has three overarching objectives for achieving sustainable development, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways. As well as an economic and environmental objective, this includes a social objective - to support strong, vibrant and healthy communities, fostering well designed, beautiful and safe places that reflect current and future needs of all in the community.These objectives should be delivered through the preparation and implementation of plans and the application of the policies in the NPPF, including an expectation that planning policies and decision should ensure that developments create places that are safe, inclusive and accessible. Further, local authorities must comply with their duties under the Equality Act in exercise of their planning functions.

Sheltered Housing

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to increase the provision of (1) extra-care housing, and (2) retirement villages for older people.

Lord Greenhalgh: Both my Department and the Department of Health and Social Care are committed to further improving the diversity of housing options available to older people. We are engaging closely with both the sector and a range of other stakeholders on this issue. This includes considering the merits of different engagement and delivery models including proposals from the sector for a cross-Government taskforce.

Housing: Access

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will respond to the consultation on accessibility for new homes in England completed in December 2020.

Lord Greenhalgh: We are currently considering responses to the consultation and will set out plans to improve the framework to deliver accessible new homes in due course.

Football: Racial Discrimination

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include racism in football as a priority in the Hate Crime Unit; and what resources they will provide to that Unit.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Government takes all forms of hate crime very seriously. We are clear that victims of racially motivated abuse should be supported and that the individuals who carry out these hateful attacks should be brought to justice.The Government is working with prominent footballers to understand more about the abuse they suffer on social media. We will continue to work with the Police, football representatives and those affected directly, to tackle this vile abuse, both on and off the football pitch.We will outline our next steps in the forthcoming Hate Crime Strategy.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Baroness Wilcox of Newport: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how much poverty will rise in the worst-case scenario from any modelling they have conducted on the impact of ending the £20 uplift for Universal Credit.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: It is not possible to produce a robust estimate of the impact of removing the Universal Credit uplift on poverty or related issues. This is particularly the case at the moment given the uncertainty around the speed of the economic recovery, and how this will be distributed across the population. The latest poverty figures (2019/20) demonstrate that absolute poverty rates (both before and after housing costs) for working-age adults in working families have fallen since 2009/10. In 2019/20, 8% of working age adults in working families were in absolute poverty (before housing costs), compared to 9% in 2009/10. The Chancellor announced a temporary six-month extension to the £20 per week uplift at the Budget on 3 March to support households affected by the economic shock of Covid-19. Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package worth a total of £407 billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22. There have been significant positive developments in the public health situation since the uplift was first introduced. With the success of the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, it is right that our focus is on helping people back into work. Through our Plan for Jobs, we are targeting tailored support schemes of people of all ages to help them prepare for, get into and progress in work. These include: Kickstart, delivering tens of thousands of six-month work placements for Universal Credit claimants aged 16-24 at risk of unemployment; Restart, which provides 12 months’ intensive employment support to Universal Credit claimants who are unemployed for a year; and JETS, which provides light touch employment support for people who are claiming either Universal Credit or New Style Jobseekers Allowance, for up to 6 months, helping participants effectively re-engage with the labour market and focus their job search. We have also recruited an additional 13,500 work coaches to provide more intensive support to find a job. In total, our Plan for Jobs interventions will support more than two million people.This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures, including by increasing the living wage, and by spending over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.This year, we are also investing up to £220m in the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which has been expanded to every Local Authority across England. Participating children will benefit from a range of support, including a healthy and nutritious meal as well as fun and engaging activities covering the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays in 2021. We also increased the value of Healthy Start Food Vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25 in April, which helps eligible low income households buy basic foods like milk, fruit and vitamins.

Universal Credit: Homelessness

Baroness Wilcox of Newport: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how much homelessness will rise in the worst-case scenario from any modelling they have conducted on the impact of ending the £20 uplift for Universal Credit.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: No impact assessments have been made. Discretionary Housing Payments provide critical support to vulnerable claimants, including those who are at risk of homelessness, that need help with their housing costs.For 2021-22 the Government has made available £140m in Discretionary Housing Payments funding for local authorities in England and Wales. In 2020-21 we boosted investment in the Local Housing Allowance by almost £1 billion and have maintained rates in cash terms for 2021-22. In addition, earlier this year we extended the exemptions from the shared accommodation rate of Local Housing Allowance for care leavers and those who have spent at least three months in a homeless hostel. From 31st May 2021 the care leavers exemption applies up to age 25 and the homeless hostel exemption applies up to age 35. The Chancellor announced a temporary six-month extension to the £20 per week uplift at the Budget on 3 March to support households affected by the economic shock of Covid-19. Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package worth a total of £407 billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22. There have been significant positive developments in the public health situation since the uplift was first introduced. With the success of the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, it is right that our focus is on helping people back into work. Through our Plan for Jobs, we are targeting tailored support schemes of people of all ages to help them prepare for, get into and progress in work. These include: Kickstart, delivering tens of thousands of six-month work placements for Universal Credit claimants aged 16-24 at risk of unemployment; Restart, which provides 12 months’ intensive employment support to Universal Credit claimants who are unemployed for a year; and JETS, which provides light touch employment support for people who are claiming either Universal Credit or New Style Jobseekers Allowance, for up to 6 months, helping participants effectively re-engage with the labour market and focus their job search. We have also recruited an additional 13,500 work coaches to provide more intensive support to find a job. In total, our Plan for Jobs interventions will support more than two million people.

Universal Credit

Baroness Wilcox of Newport: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how much food bank usage will rise in the worst-case scenario from any modelling they have conducted on the impact of ending the £20 uplift for Universal Credit.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: No assessment has been made. Foodbanks are independent, charitable organisations and the Department for Work and Pensions does not have any role in their operation. There is no consistent and accurate measure of food bank usage at a constituency or national level. The Chancellor announced a temporary six-month extension to the Universal Credit uplift at the Budget on 3 March to support households affected by the economic shock of Covid-19. Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package worth a total of £407billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22. There have been significant positive developments in the public health situation since the uplift was first introduced with the success of the vaccine rollout. Now the economy is reopening and as we continue to progress with our recovery our focus is on helping people back into work. Through our Plan for Jobs, we are targeting tailored support schemes of people of all ages to help them prepare for, get into and progress in work. These include: Kickstart, delivering tens of thousands of six-month work placements for Universal Credit claimants aged 16-24 at risk of unemployment; Restart, which provides 12 months’ intensive employment support to Universal Credit claimants who are unemployed for a year; and JETS, which provides light touch employment support for people who are claiming either Universal Credit or New Style Jobseekers Allowance, for up to 6 months, helping participants effectively re-engage with the labour market and focus their job search. We have also recruited an additional 13,500 work coaches to provide more intensive support to find a job. In total, our Plan for Jobs interventions will support more than two million people. This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures, including by increasing the living wage, and by spending over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22. This year, we are also investing up to £220m in the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which has been expanded to every Local Authority across England. Participating children will benefit from a range of support, including a healthy and nutritious meal as well as fun and engaging activities covering the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays in 2021. We also increased the value of Healthy Start Food Vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25 in April, which helps eligible low income households buy basic foods like milk, fruit and vitamins.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Pesticides: Pollinators

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of House of Lords report stage amendment 53 to the Environment Bill, which would insert a clause on the protection of pollinators from pesticides.

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of amendment 53 to the Environment Bill at report stage in the House of Lords regarding the diversity of insect life and pollination.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Decisions on pesticide authorisation are based on expert assessment by the Health and Safety Executive. The independent UK Expert Committee on Pesticides advises on novel scientific issues. Current legislation already requires that active substances and pesticide products have “no unacceptable effects on the environment … having particular regard to its impact on non-target species”, which can include impacts on bees and other pollinators. The scientific risk assessment relies on detailed data requirements and processes, carried across from EU law at the end of the transition period. The Government will ensure that these are updated to keep in step with developments in scientific understanding. Risk assessments made for active substances are already subject to public consultation. These assessments establish the key risks posed by pesticide substances in representative conditions of use. Protecting pollinators is a priority. The National Pollinator Strategy, developed and updated alongside many partners following thorough scientific review, identifies pressures on pollinators on which we are acting, including potential harm from pesticide use, habitat loss and fragmentation, and invasive species. We continue making decisions on pesticides use based on scientific risk assessments, while aiming to achieve high levels of protection for people, wildlife, and the environment.

Treasury

Business: Money

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to make theFinancial Conduct Authority responsible for tracking whether businesses accept cash money across the economy.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government recognises that cash remains important to millions of people across the UK. On 1 July, the Government published the Access to Cash Consultation, seeking views on legislative proposals to protect cash access for the long term. The Government’s proposals include making the Financial Conduct Authority the lead regulator for oversight of the retail cash system. The FCA responsibilities would extend to monitoring and enforcing cash access requirements, assessing cash access needs and demands over time, and monitoring the geographic spread of cash access points across the UK. This builds on legislative changes made by Government as part of the Financial Services Act 2021 to support the widespread offering of cashback without a purchase by shops and other businesses. The financial services industry is already seeking to take advantage of these changes to the benefit of cash users; working with retailers to get this service rolled out to local communities. In July, the FCA published updated evidence on cash access. This included research on cash acceptance by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which found that the primary motivation for accepting cash is to provide customers with choice. Nearly all (98%) of surveyed businesses stated they would never turn away a customer if they needed to pay by cash.

Renewable Energy: Cryptocurrencies

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support theCrypto Climate Accord initiativeahead of COP26; and what steps they plan to take to build supportamong the UK (1) crypto, and (2) fintech, industries for the cryptocurrency sector to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy sources.

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether managing the high energy impact of cryptocurrencies will be on the agenda at COP26.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government’s private finance objective for the upcoming COP26 climate change forum is to ensure that every professional financial decision takes climate change into account. The recovery from COVID-19 will determine the mitigation and adaptation pathways for decades to come. The finance campaign will provide the conditions for a future that is genuinely greener, more resilient and more sustainable than the past. Action on finance underpins all the other COP campaigns: adaptation and resilience, energy transition, nature and zero-emission vehicles. Without the right levels of finance, the rest is not possible. The Government has already taken action to ensure the UK is the world-leading centre for green finance including through announcing an intention to make disclosures aligned with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) fully mandatory across the economy by 2025, making the UK the first country to do so. Additionally, the Government has committed to the implementation of a green taxonomy.  This will allow us to accelerate our work towards a greener financial sector, by providing a common definition for environmentally sustainable economy activities. The Cryptoasset Taskforce, comprising HM Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Bank of England, considers the impact of cryptoassets and assesses what, if any, regulation is required in response. The Government has been monitoring developments within the cryptoasset industry, including rising energy usage. The Government is committed to upholding its pledge relating to the Paris Climate Agreement and have enacted a legally binding target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Between 1990 and 2018, the UK reduced its emissions by 43% while growing the economy by 75% – the best performance in the G7 on a per person basis and will continually assess any emerging environmental threats.

Cryptocurrencies: Energy

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require UK (1) crypto, and (2) fintech, industries, to account for energy use in the production of digital currencies.

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions that cryptocurrencies were responsible for in (1) the UK, and (2) the world, over the last 12 months.

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to account for the blockchain impact of cryptocurrency use in national emissions calculations; and how this relates to the UK's commitments under theParis Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government has been monitoring developments within the cryptoasset industry, including rising energy usage. The Cryptoasset Taskforce, comprising HM Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Bank of England, considers the impact of cryptoassets and assesses what, if any, regulation is required in response. The Government stands ready to respond to emerging risks or changes in the market and will continue to monitor developments in cryptoassets. In November 2020, the Chancellor announced that the UK will implement a green taxonomy – a common framework for determining which activities can be defined as environmentally sustainable – which will improve understanding of the impact of firms’ activities and investments on the environment and support our transition to a sustainable economy. More details on the green taxonomy will be announced in due course. The Government has already taken action to ensure the UK is the world-leading centre for green finance including through announcing an intention to make disclosures aligned with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) fully mandatory across the economy by 2025, making the UK the first country to do so. The Government is committed to upholding its pledge relating to the Paris Climate Agreement and have enacted a legally binding target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Between 1990 and 2018, the UK reduced its emissions by 43% while growing the economy by 75% – the best performance in the G7 on a per person basis and will continually assess any emerging environmental threats.

Insurance and Pension Funds: Capital Investment

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to change the regulation of insurer investment to encourage pension funds and insurers to back capital projects.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government wants to see a prudential regulatory regime for insurers that provides a sound foundation for insurance firms to provide long-term capital to the economy, including investment in long-term productive assets. In July 2021 the Government published its response to the Call for Evidence on Solvency II which set out the process by which this will be achieved. In addition, the Government will shortly introduce new rules to eliminate unnecessary barriers to pension fund investment in long-term assets. This includes: the calculation of the default fund charge cap for automatic enrolment schemes; consolidation measures to be taken by schemes with less than £100m assets under management; and the publication of net returns. The Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority have also convened the Productive Finance Working Group. This industry group has focused on facilitating pension fund investment in long-term assets. This has included work on the creation of the Long-Term Asset Fund structure, the rules for which will soon be finalised by the Financial Conduct Authority.